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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Help! 4mths old and need to introduce ebm bottle.

13 replies

Peanutgant · 18/06/2006 20:21

My baby is 4mths old and has never fed from a bottle, we have a night out booked that we can't get out of in 4 weeks and need to make sure that she can take a bottle of EBM before then. Tried a trainer cup for 3+ months and that didn't work, any thoughts, suggestions, hints etc for what bottles to try and best way to encourage a baby onto a bottle at this stage.

OP posts:
beansprout · 18/06/2006 20:25

Get someone else to feed her, pref dh but someone else that she knows. If you are around, she is quite likely to prefer it straight from source so that option must not be available to her. Also, make sure she is not too tired or hungry and of course, make sure it is the right temperature. I used to do this by standing the bottle in a bowl of boiling water and then dripping a bit on the inside of my wrist. If I couldn't really feel it, it was at body temperature (just how they like it!)

Good luck! Smile

JennT · 18/06/2006 20:40

Oooo Just my problem! DD is 5 months old and happily took bottle of expressed milk from dad for 6 from 6 weeks. Suddenly she stopped taking it. The look on her face was absolute disgust. Seriously I think she thought I was posioning her. At 22 weeks we are starting to sort it out again because she is starting nursery in 4 weeks.

JennT · 18/06/2006 20:48

We are using the suggestions from Tracy Hogg "The baby whisperer solves all your problems". So far though she will only take a bottle from me and not dh! This seems to be unusual as mostly babies will take from anybody but mum if they think boob is on offer. I am at the end of my tether.....

Broadie · 18/06/2006 21:03

My DD took a bottle no probs every now and again from 6 weeks, then at about 3 months she completely flat refused to entertain the idea. I think its a common problem at that age - i'm not sure why but it is a stage that passes with gentle persuasion and patience. Patience is not something I would normally associate myself with - but I still managed to do it. First of all 4 weeks is stacks of time to do this - if your really anxious about the bottle - you know 'take the bloomin bottle child' anxious then the child will pick up on it and will refuse refuse refuse. Why would they take a bottle - they assume there is something bad about it - as why would you be so anxious. Start slowly - get baby used to the teat - put just a little bit of milk in the bottle - about 20ml - WARM the teat. Try and get the baby to accept the teat - play with it in the mouth, if they take it or don't take it don't make a big deal about it - do this GAME when baby is alert and happy to play. Try this frequently - don't get anxious - this is fun for both of you. Baby WILL take the bottle, and you will have your night out. Just remember to relax and not be anxious and make it fun.

Hope that helps
debs

magnolia1 · 18/06/2006 21:08

My mother in law suggested boiling the teat to soften it, I thought she was mad but it worked Shock

teabags · 18/06/2006 21:12

persevere, I had to keep at it with EBM,every day I tried to have a set feed that was a bottle and in the end it became routine and was fine. hth and good luck

JennT · 18/06/2006 21:15

Yeah... Warm the teat (by shaking milk into teat from bottle), and rub on lower gum. I let dd play with bottle before I fed it to her and that helped. Still have problem with dh giving bottle though. Think he is stressed about it though. Tracy Hogg suggests starting in the morning so not too knackered but hungry and ready for feed. Don't force it but keep trying every hour. If that is what you do then DEF only use a small amount (1 oz) of V V precious EBM as you can't reheat it. Would be great if baby takes cold EBM but when first starting use warm because that is what they are used to.

Original poster
Peanutgant · 19/06/2006 19:36

Thank you ladies! Tried warming the teat (bought a NUK bottle) and squirting breast milk on it - seemed to work. She did not reject it - struggled to suck properly - managed to get a little out. Will persevere daily.. fingers crossed!

OP posts:
BetsyBoop · 19/06/2006 21:10

I had problems getting my DD to take a bottle, she just couldn't seem to "latch on" to any of the different brands of teats I tried.

A friend (who had the same problem with her DS) recommended the MAM teats & they worked a treat - first go.

I have since recommened they to a lady in my baby massage class & they worked for her too, so definitely worth a try if you are still struggling

(you only need the teats, they fit standard wide necked bottles such as Avent etc)

\link{http://www.mambaby.com/websystem301/site/index.php?articleid=1341&nodeid=47\mam teats}

NotAnOtter · 19/06/2006 21:12

my breastfed son will also only entertain the mam teats - very odd!

corblimeymadam · 20/06/2006 14:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheBlonde · 20/06/2006 15:10

Another vote for mam teats here

Original poster
Peanutgant · 26/06/2006 19:50

STILL having no luck, this is most frustrating tried both MAM and NUK with no success. She doesn't seem to mind the bottle in her mouth but doesn't seem to know what to do with it! The Tommee TIppee breast bottle she plays with... grrr!!

Gawd feels like we will never crack this, wish I had introduced a bottle much earlier.

OP posts:
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